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Orange needs a plan to deter ugly sprawl Date published: 7/28/2009
(The following commentary may be technically moot depending on whether the Orange Board of Supervisors voted last night to grant a special-use permit allowing Wal-Mart to site a store on the Wilderness battlefield. In any case, we thought Mr. Abel's comments worthy of publication.--Ed.) LOCUST GROVE --Lost amid the debate over building a Wal-Mart on the Wilderness battlefield is the question of whether or not we want Orange County to suffer from the same development pressures that plague other Virginia communities. To anyone driving along State Route 3 through Fredericksburg and Spotsylvania County it is painfully obvious what can result when localities take a piecemeal approach to development rather than a comprehensive view to guide land-use decisions.Right now, Orange County has the chance to avoid the development pattern that transformed once-picturesque Route 3 into a congested, frustrating mess of traffic lights and mediocre strip malls. But our elected officials must have the will and wisdom to act. This is not just about Wal-Mart. Wal-Mart is only the beginning of a commercial-development blitz that, if unchecked, will permanently transform the character of eastern Orange County and the Route 3 corridor. Growth may be inevitable, even desirable, but the county must put proper planning measures in place and proceed with an overall vision for what an ideal Route 3 will look like in 10 or 20 years. Do we want another Central Park? Or do we want to take the time now, while we can, to carefully plan development so it does not destroy the rural and historic nature of Orange County? The choice seems obvious, but it will happen only if county leaders take initiative now, before Wal-Mart is approved and the floodgates opened. It is our job as county residents to demand that they do so.
This is a very good point. Walmart will only be the start of whats to come in the future. We need to make sure that all of Virginia, not just Orange sees good planning.
why do the supervisors seem so interested in inviting sprawl to orange county, especially right at the entrance to the county? there are better sites for walmart and this kind of development, it doesn't have to be on the battlefield and right at the entrance to the county. let's take a step back and find a better solution that makes everyone happy.
I find it interesting that Supervisor Burkett seems to always be commenting that Orange residents want this Walmart at this location. I have to say that the majority of opinion pieces I have seen in this paper are opposed to the Walmart at this location. I think a lot of residents do like the idea of a Walmart, but they are not adamant, as the supervisors are, that the Walmart has to go at the proposed location. Just move it a half mile or a mile down the road.
The writer is right on target with his comments. But the sad truth is that the board of supervisors does want Central Park. They claim otherwise, that Wal-mart won't be visible (wrong!), it isn't on the battlefield (wrong!), and it won't increase traffic (very wrong!), but then they cast their vote for sprawl. Say goodbye to Orange County as you know it.
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